Toll collection on Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of NH likely to begin soon at Pantheerankavu

Toll collection on the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the National Highway-66 in Kozhikode district would begin soon following the issue of the official notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The operators have completed the series of their trial runs as part of the preparations in place to operate the toll booths at Pantheerankavu.

Officials said electronic payments using FASTag would be encouraged at the toll plaza with separate gates for heavy vehicles, light motor vehicles and goods carriers. They said the toll collection would begin soon after the publication of the notified rates in the media.

As per the recently declared tariff structure, motorists without FASTag would have to remit a surcharge of 25% when paying via UPI, while those using cash payment option would be charged double the applicable toll charges. Local residents living within a 20-km radius would be able to use special passes priced at ₹340 for light motor vehicles with unlimited crossing options during the validity period.

For other motorists, options for annual FASTag priced at ₹3,000 with permission for 200 crossings across the country would also be made available. Partial toll amount would be collected from motorists on their return journey through the toll gates within 24 hours. All commercial vehicle owners who have registered their vehicles in Kozhikode district would be eligible for a 50% concession in the rates. However, national permit vehicles would not be eligible for the same concession.

Soon after the announcement of the tariff list, a section of vehicle operators and local residents expressed concern over the move to impose “hefty toll” ahead of the total completion of the NH widening project. They also claimed that the earlier promises to facilitate a considerable reduction in tariffs for local residents were violated.

The six-laning works on the Vengalam-Ramanattukara stretch of the Kozhikode bypass were completed last year covering about 28 kilometres. According to officials, the total expense for the construction was over ₹1,900 crore, which also included the construction cost of a few bridge projects, flyovers and approach roads.